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y 1933- w, GILCHRIST ET AL 1,685

- COIN SELECTOR Filed Feb. 13, 1931 FET'Q. El

INVENTORS. -63 W. L. G/LCHR/ST. W 7': HOOFNH GLE. v w) A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orr ce WILLIAM L. GILCHRIST, OF LOSANGELES,' CALIFORNIA, AND WILLIAM '1. HOOFNAGLE,

OF GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS 'IO ROWE SLUG EJECTOR. CO., LTD., 013 I LOS ANGELES, CLALHORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA corn sn' no'roR Application filed February 13, 1931. .Serial No. 515,465.

This invention relates to improvements incoin selecting and detecting devices.

The general object of the invention isto provide an improved magnetic coin selector.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin selector wherein a magnetic field or flux coacts with gravity for segregating various coins or tokens.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an improved coin selector which separates ferrous coins from non-ferrous coins and separates one type of non-ferrous coins from the others.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end view of the coin selector.

2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 ofv Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary face view of one side of the housing.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters we have indicated our improved coin selector generally at 10. This device is adapted to be used in combination with token or coin controlled machines, change making devices or can be used independently for testing coins or for other purposes.

As shown the device 10 comprises a housing 12 which includes side members-13 and 14. The side member 13 is provided with a front flange 15, a back flange 16, a bottom flange 17 and a top flange 18. The side member 14 is shown as secured to the side member 13 by a plurality of screws 19.

Within the housing 12 we provide guide rails 20 and 20 which form the inclined bottom of a coin chute 21 and are secured to the side member 13 by screws 22. A member 23 which is secured to the side member 13 by a-plurality of screws 24 forms one side of a coin chute25 and one side of a coin chute 26. The upper end of the mem ber 23 includes a guide portion 27 which is inclined and is positioned below the lower end of the guide rail 20 and the lower por-' tion of the membe 23 includes a guide portion 28 for the coin chute'26 and an arcuate guide portion 29 for the coin; chute 25. I g

The other side of the coin chute 25 is formed by a guide rail 30 which'is secured to the side member 13 by a plurality of screws 31 and the other side of'the coin chute 26 is formed by a guide member "32 which is secured to the'side member 13 by a plurality of screws 33.

The coin chute 26 includes a curved portion 34 which is formed by an arcuate face 35 on the member 32, a portion 36 which is slightly inclined from the vertical and a portion 37 which is slightly inclined from the horizontal and is shown as formed by a portion 38 of the member 32.

Spaced below'the coin chute 26 we provide a coin chute 40,-the bottom ofwhich is formed by a guide rail 41 secured to the side I member 13 by a plurality of screws 42 and is inclined downwardly towards the flange 16. The inner upper end of the guide rail 41 terminates on a line with the inner endof the portion 38 of the guidemember 32 and includes a coin separating p'oint43."

At the side of the coin separating point 43 towards the front flange 15 we provide a coin chute 45 the bottom of which is'formed by a guide rail 46 which is secured to the side member 13 by a plurality ofscrews 47 Spaced from the inner end of the portion- 38 of the member 32 and from the coin separating point 43 we providean anvil member 48 which is secured to the side member 13 by a plurality ofsorews 49.

- Coins or tokens are shown as adapted to be delivered to the housing 12 by a coin chute 50 and spurious coins or tokens are shown as adapted tobedirected away from the housing 12 by a coin chute 51 while good coins are shown as directed away from the housing 12 by a coin chute 52.

The coin chute 50 communicates with the coin chute21 andthe coin chute 51 communicates with the coin chute 45 and the coin chute 52 communicates with the coin chute In the coinchute 21 we provide a magnetic memberwhich is shown in the form of a horseshoe magnet 55 which is positioned in a similarly shaped aperture in the side member 13 and is secured to the side member 13 by a cross bar 56 and a screw 57 and a nut 58. The pole ends of the magnet 55 form portions ofthe bottom of the coin chute 21 and are flush with the upper surface of the guide rails 20 and 21. One side 59 of the magnet 55 forms a portion of one side of theeoin chute 25. 1 a

a 'In the portion 37 of the coin chute 26' we provide a pair of opposed magnet members 60 which are shown as of the horseshoe type and each may be made up of a plurality of separate magnets or in one piece as shown. The pole ends of the magnets are positioned in apertures 61 provided in the side members and are flush with the inner faces of the side members. As shown the magnets 60 are mounted on lips 62 turned out from the side members and clamped to the lips by bars 63-and 64 and screws 65.

As shown the device 10 is adapted to segregate ferrous coins or tokens from nonferrous coins or tokens andU. S. five cent pieces from non-ferrous coins or tokens;

In operation all coins or tokens may be delivered through the coin chute 50 to the, coin chute 21 which directs them towards the portion 34 of the coin chute 26. Spurious coins or tokens which contain ferrous material will, when they pass over the magnet 55, be attracted thereto and slow down and follow around the side 59 of the magnet 55 into the coin chute 25. The strength of the magnet 55 issuch that it doesnotfully overcome the force of gravity on the'ferrous coins or tokens but causes them to adhere to the side 59 of the magnet so that the force of gravity causes the coins or tokens to roll down the side of the magnet until they contact with the member 30 whereupon they will be disengaged from the magnet 55 and will fall downward in the coin chute 25.

Coins or tokens containing a small amount of ferrous material will not adhere to the side of the magnet but the attraction of the magnet will damp their momentum sufficiently that they will not jump the coin chute 25 but will fall thereinto. \Vhen the ferrous coins or tokens leave the coin chute 25 they fall onto the guide rail 46 of the coin chute 45 and are directed into the coin chute 51.

All non-ferrous coins or tokens will be unaffected by the magnet 55 and will jump the coin chute 25 and will either engage or pass over the portion 27 of the member 23 into the coin chute 26. The. non-ferrous Coins or tokens will then pass down the portion36 of the coin chute 26 into the portion 27 thereof and then they will pass therefrom.

As a good U. S five cent piece passes the magnets the eddy currents set: up by the five cent piecerolling through the flux field will effect the momentum of the five cent piece in a manner whereby the force of gravity will direct it to strike face 48 of the anvil 48. lVhereupon it will rebound and jump the space between the anvil and the guide rail 41 and pass over the coin separating point into the coin chute 40 whereupon the guide rail 41 will direct it into the coin chute 52. I

'The angle of the face 48 of the anvil 48 and the height of the coin separating point 43 are such that coins or tokens similar in composition to a United States five cent piece but not of exactly the same composition and hardness, will not pass over the coin separating point even though they mlght strike the anvil 48, but will fall into the com chute 45.

All other coins or tokens which do not strike the anvil 48 will be directed by the force of gravity directly into the coin chute 45 and thence into the coin chute 51.

Throughout the specification and claims we have used the word ferrous as typical of all para-magnetic coins or tokens and the word non-ferrous as typical of all die-magnetic coins or tokens.

From the foregoing description It Wlll be apparent that we have provided a novel com selector which is simplein construction and highly efficient in use.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: Z

1. In a coin selector, a housing, a com chute in said housing, means to direct coins into said coin chute, a horseshoe magnet adjacent the inner end of said coin chute, a second coin chute arranged at an angle to said first coin chute, a side guide rail for said second coin chute adj acent'said magnet, a thirdcoin chute spaced from said second coin chute, a pair of opposed horseshoe magnets in said third coin chute, a guidemember above said opposed magnets, said guide member including means to direct colns 111 said second chute past said opposed magnets, a fourth coin chute below said third coin chute, an anvil, said anvil being spaced from the discharge end of said third COlIl' chute, a fifth coin chute positioned below said anvil, said first magnet being adapted to cause ferrous coins traveling in said first coin chute to enter said second coin chute and said ferrous coins upon leaving said second coin chute being adapted to fall into said fifth coin chute, non-ferrous coins traveling in said first coin chute being unaffected by said magnet and having suflicient velocity to jump the entrance of said second com chute. and enter said third coin chute, spurious non-ferrous coins upon leaving the discharge end of said third coinchute being adapted to fall into said fifth coin chute, said opposed magnets being adapted to affect a good non-ferrous coin in a manner whereby said coin will strike sald anvil and rebound and jump the entrance to said fifth coin chute and pass over said coin separating point into said fourth coin chute.

'2. In a coin selector, a housing, a coin chute in said housing, a magnet adjacent the inner end of said coin chute, means to direct coins into said coin chute, said coin chute including a lower inclined guide rail, a second coin chute at an angle to said first coin chute, a third coin chute spaced from said second coin chute, said third coin chute including a curved portion adapted toreceive coins from said first coin chute and a straight portion inclined from the vertical and a discharge portion inclined from the horizontal, a pair of opposed horseshoe magnets in said discharge portion, the pole ends of said magnets forming portions .of the side walls of said third coin chute and a guide member above said opposed magnets, said guide member including means to direct coins in said second chute past said opposed magnets, the lower end of said second coin chute being above the discharge end of said third coin chute, a bounding block in the path of coins discharged from said discharge portion, a pair of coin-chutes disposed to receive coins striking and rebounding from said block and a separator disposed between said last two chutes to selectively direct coins into said last two chutes according to their properties.

3. In a coin selector, a housing, a coin chute in said housing, means to direct coins into said coin chute, said coin chute including a lower inclined guide rail, a second coin chute at an angle to said first coin chute, a third coin chute spaced from said second coin chute, said third coin chute including a curved portion adapted to receive coins from said first coin chute and a straight portion inclined from the vertical and a discharge portion inclined from the horizontal, a pair of opposed horseshoe magnets in said discharge portion, the pole ends of said magnets forming portions of the side walls of said third coin chute, a guide member above said opposed magnets, said guide member including means to direct coins in said second chute past said opposed magnets, the lower end of said second coin chute being above the discharge end of said third coin chute, a fourth coin chute below said third coin chute, said fourth coin chute including an inclined guide rail having a coin separating point thereon, an anvil, said anvil being spaced from the discharge end of said third coin chute and from said coin separating point and below said discharge chute, and a fifth coin chute positioned below said fourth coin chute and said anvil and magnetic means associated with said first coin chute to cause ferrous coins traveling in said first coin chute to enter said second coin chute.

4. In a coin selector, a housing, a coin chute insaid housing, means to direct coins into said coin chute, a second coin chute at an angle to said first coin chute, a third coin chute spaced from said second coin chute, said third coin chute adapted to receive coins from said first coin chute and including adischargeportlon, a fourth coin chute belo-vv non-ferrous coins traveling in said'first coin chute being unaffected by said means whereby they jump the entrance of said second coin chute and enter saidthird coin chute, spurious non-ferrous coins upon leaving the discharge end of said third coin chute being adapted to fall into saidfifth coin chute, and means whereby the force of gravity will cause said good non-ferrous coins to strike the anvil and rebound and jump the entrance to said fifth coin chute and pass over said coin separating point into said fourth coin chute.

5. In a coin selector, a housing, a coin chute in said housing, means to direct coins into said coin chute, a second coin chutelarranged at an angle to said first coin chute, a third coin chute spaced from said second coin chute, said third coin chute adapted to receive coins from said first coin chute and including a discharge portion, a pair of opposed horseshoe magnets in said discharge portion, the pole ends of said magnets form: ing portions of the side Walls of said third coin chute, a fourth coin chute below'said third coin chute, said fourth coin chute including a guide rail having a coin separating point thereon, an anvil, said anvil being spaced from the discharge end of said third coin chute andfrom said coin separating point and below said discharge chute, a fifth coin chute positioned below said fourth coin chute and said anvil, means associated with said first coin chute adapted to cause ferrous coins traveling in said first coin chute to enter said second coin'chute, means to cause said ferrous coins upon leaving, said second coin chute to fall into said fifth coin.

chute, non-ferrous coins traveling in said first coin chute being unaffected by said means whereby they jump the entrance of said second coin chute and enter said third coin chute, spurious non-ferrous coins upon leaving the discharge end of said third coin chute being adapted to fall into said fifth rebound and jump the entrance to said fifth coin chute, said opposed magnets being adapted to effect a good non-ferrous coin whereby the force of gravity will cause said good non-ferrous coin to strike the anvil and rebound and jump the entrance to said fifth coin chute and pass over said coin separating point into said fourth coin chute.

6. In a coin selector, a housing, a coin chute in said housing, means to direct coins into said coin chute, said coin chute including a lower inclined guide rail, a horseshoe inagnet adjacent the inner end of said coin chute, the pole ends of said-magnet being flush withthe working face of said guide rail, a second coin chute arranged at an angle to saidfirst coin chute, one side of said magnet being exposed in said second coin chute, a side guide rail for said second coin chute adjacent said magnet, a third coin chute spaced from said second coin chute, said third coin chute including a curved portion adapted to receive coins from said first coin chute, and a straight portion inclined from the vertical'and a discharge portion inclined from the horizontal, a pair of opposed horseshoe magnets in said discharge portion, the pole ends of said magnets forming portions of the side walls of said third coin chute, a guide member above said opposed magnets, said guide member including means to direct coins in said second chute past said opposed magnets, the lower end of said second coin chute being above the discharge end of said third coin chute, a fourth coinchute below said third coin chute, said fourth coin chute including an inclined guide rail having a coin separating point thereon, an 'anvil, said anvil being spaced from the discharge end of said third coin chute and from said coin separating point and below said discharge chute, a fifth coin chute being positioned below said fourth coin chute and said anvil, said first magnet being adapted to cause ferrous coins traveling in said first coin chute to enter said second coin chute and said ferrous coins upon leaving said second coin chute being adapted to fall into said fifth coin chute, non ferrous coins traveling in said first coin chute being unaffected by said magnet and having suificient velocity to jump the entrance of said second coin chute and enter said third coin chute, spurious non-ferrous coins upon leaving the discharge end of said third coin chute being adapted to fall into said fifth coin chute, said opposed magnets being adapted to affect a good non-ferrous coin in a manner whereby said coin will strike said anvil and coin chute and pass over said coin separating point into said fourth coin chute.

7 In a coin selector, a housing, a coin chute in said housing, means to direct coins into said coin chute, a magnet at the inner end of said coin chute, a second coin chute at an angle to said first coin chute, a third coin chute spaced from said second coin chute, said third coin chute adapted to receive coins from said first coin chute and including a discharge portion, a pair of 0pposedhorseshoe magnets in said discharge portion, a pair of spaced coin chutes below saidthird coin chute, said fourth coin chute including a guide rail having a coin separating point thereon, an anvil, said anvil being spaced from the discharge end of said third coin chute and from said coin separating point and below said discharge chute and a fifth coin chute positioned below said fourth coin chute and said anvil and means to cause coins leaving said discharge portion to selectively enter one of said pair of spaced coin chutes according to the influence exerted thereon by said magnets.

8. In a coin selector, a housing, a coin chute in said housing and arranged to receive ferrous andnon-ferrous coins of the correct size, a magnet adjacent the inner end of said coin chute, a second coin chute arranged in advance to said first coin chute and adapted to receive IlO11fB1l'OUS coins, a third coin chute extending downwardly from said second coin chute, a fourth coin chute communicating with said third coin chute, said fourth coin chute having a curved lower wall, means to produce a flux field across the fourth coin chute, a fifth coin chute, said fifth coin chute having the upper end, thereof at one side thereof comprising a coin separating point whereby coins passing through said flux field and having certain characteristics will pass to one side of said point and other coins passing through said flux field and having certain characteristics will pass to the other side of said point.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto aflix our signatures.

WILLIAM L. GILCHRIST. WILLIAM T. HOOFNAGLE. 

